If you've been watching Fairfax County home prices and wondering whether you can realistically afford to buy, you're not alone — and you may have more help available than you realize. There are several active down payment assistance programs specifically designed for first-time buyers in Fairfax County, and many people who qualify never apply simply because they don't know these programs exist.
Here's a clear breakdown of what's available right now, who qualifies, and how each program works.
The Fairfax County Down Payment Loan
The most significant local resource is the Fairfax County Down Payment Loan, administered by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA). This program provides up to $50,000 to eligible first-time buyers to use toward their down payment, closing costs, or reducing their first mortgage principal.
To qualify, your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). As of 2026, those limits are: 1 person: $91,750 / 2 people: $104,900 / 3 people: $118,000 / 4 people: $131,100.
A few important details to know before applying: you cannot already be under contract on a home when you submit your application, you must occupy the home as your primary residence for the life of the loan, and the loan must be paired with a Virginia Housing first-mortgage through an approved lender.
One thing to understand about this program is that it includes a shared equity commitment. When you eventually sell or pay off the loan, Fairfax County receives back its original loan amount plus a share of any appreciation. For example, if your $50,000 loan represented 12.5% of your purchase price, the county receives 12.5% of your net equity at payoff — in addition to the principal. There are no monthly payments required on the loan itself.
Applications are processed through a Virginia Housing-approved lender, on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds are limited, so if you're eligible, there's no reason to wait.
Virginia Housing's Down Payment Assistance Grant
At the state level, Virginia Housing (formerly VHDA) offers a Down Payment Assistance Grant of 2% to 2.5% of the purchase price — and unlike the county loan, this is a true grant with no repayment requirement.
On a $500,000 home, that's $10,000 to $12,500 you don't have to repay. The grant is paired with eligible Virginia Housing loans, including FHA and conventional options. You must be a first-time homebuyer, defined as someone who hasn't owned and occupied a primary residence in the past three years.
This grant is available statewide and works well on its own or stacked with other programs. A Virginia Housing-approved lender can walk you through how to structure it for your situation.
Virginia DHCD's HOMEownership Down Payment Assistance
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) also runs the HOMEownership Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program, which provides up to 10–15% of the purchase price (capped at $25,000), plus up to $1,200 toward closing costs.
Eligibility requires income at or below 80% AMI, and buyers must be first-time purchasers. This program is often useful for buyers who need more than the Virginia Housing grant alone provides but don't meet the county loan criteria or prefer not to take on the shared equity structure.
Fairfax County's Affordable and Workforce Dwelling Unit Programs
Beyond direct financial assistance, Fairfax County also operates the Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) homebuyer programs, which allow income-qualified buyers to purchase homes in market-rate communities at significantly below-market prices.
These aren't subsidized apartments — they're ownership units in regular neighborhoods, priced to be accessible for moderate-income households. If you're flexible on which specific home or area you're buying in, this can be one of the most impactful ways to enter the market in Fairfax County. Note that the Fairfax County Down Payment Loan cannot be used on ADU or WDU purchases — they're separate tracks.
One Step All Programs Require
Whether you apply for the county loan, the Virginia Housing grant, or the DHCD program, you'll almost certainly need to complete a Virginia Housing Homebuyer Education Course. This is a free, mandatory step that prepares you for the responsibilities of homeownership and is a prerequisite for most of these programs. It can typically be completed online.
How to Get Started
The best first step is to connect with a Virginia Housing-approved lender who can review your income, the purchase price range you're working with, and determine which programs you're eligible to stack together. In some cases, a buyer can combine the Virginia Housing grant with the Fairfax County loan, meaningfully reducing the cash needed at closing.
For questions about the county loan, you can reach the Fairfax County Housing and Community Development office at FCDPL@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-246-5000.
If you'd like guidance navigating this process — from understanding your options to finding the right home in your budget — our team at The Redux Group works with first-time buyers throughout Fairfax County every day. Reach out at thereduxgroup.com and we'll point you in the right direction.
